LG 42LK520 42-Inch HDTV Review – Good Value?

In an earlier review we discussed an HDTV loaded with some high-tech features that includes things like Netflix, internet radio, and social networking. But, what about those people who don’t really want all of those extras and simply want an HDTV that is easy to use and has a great picture? With those consumers in mind, we came across the LG 42LK520 LCD TV. With a wallet friendly price (current price) and 42-inches of screen, our initial impressions were that the TV was a bargain. Of course, we aren’t satisfied with first impressions, so naturally we had to dig a little deeper. Here is what we found:

Product Highlights

Full HD 1080p

42-inch screen size

3 HDMI ports and 1 USB port

Contrast ratio of 150,000 to 1

Picture Wizard

Energy Star qualified

TruMotion 120HZ technology

What We Liked About The LG 42LK520 42-Inch HDTV

TruMotion – One issue with LCD TVs, as compared to plasmas, is that they sometimes have a lag or blurriness during action scenes. The TruMotion technology on the LG 42-inch TV makes this virtually a non-issue. Movements are much smoother than comparable TVs and it makes watching sports and action movies much more enjoyable.

Great Picture – The biggest selling point of any HDTV is its picture quality, and with a contrast ratio of 150,000:1, the LG 42LK520 really delivers. The display is stunning and has both color and depth that are unmatched among other LCDs in its price range.

Picture Adjustment Wizard – This LG television has a built-in picture wizard that will guide you through the process of calibrating the picture to your exact liking. It makes it easy to adjust the black level, the tint, and the various colors.

Swivel Action – This seems like a simple feature, but it is handy to have and makes us like the TV that much more. Not only can you swivel the TV to your viewing direction, but it also makes it easy to turn the TV to the side if you need to adjust any of your wires or plugged in accessories.

Matte Screen – Another straight-forward addition, but it reduces glare, which makes a big difference if you are watching TV in a bright room.

Clear Voice – We might have been more excited by this feature than any other mentioned in our LG 42LK520 review. If you’re like us, you are sick of having to crank your TV up so loud to hear the dialogue, only to be deafened during action scenes or when the background music is playing. Clear voice solves this problem as it allows you to turn up the sound of the voices, and only the voices.

The Stand – The stand for the LG 42-inch TV is mostly made out of plastic, and frankly did not feel especially sturdy. We would suggest putting this TV on a steady table, and well out of the way from where people may bump into it. However, if you plan to wall-mount the LG than this is not a problem.

Sound – Like most slim HDTVs, the sound quality on this LG TV isn’t terrible, but it didn’t really impress us either — it’s just ok. It does have two speakers; however, they are only “one way,” so you don’t get that surround sound feel. The speakers are fine if you are not a big audio buff, if you are, you may want to invest in some additional audio equipment.

The LG 42LK520 seems rather unassuming, but it actually has some great features that really enhance the viewing experience. However, it is intuitive and simple enough to use that those who just want a basic HDTV will not be overwhelmed. Overall, it’s a great choice for those who value a superb picture and flexible user-preferences, but don’t need a lot of extra frills. Click here to learn more

Panasonic VIERA TC-P42S30 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV – At 42-inches, this plasma HDTV is virtually the same as the one listed above, just a little smaller. It has all of the features as the P50S30, but is about $200 cheaper and obviously takes up less space.